National Republican., 1887-12-24


while bllndfoldod, thus llberatlng the swo bis
I contains, is the favored knight OF the
evening. Each boy In turn Is securely
blindiolded, led some PAGES away from tho
ola, and twirled rapidly around several
times In order to confuse his "bump OF
locality" after which long stick is placed
In bis hande.
The aspirant, being always confident that
he can accomplish the feat at the first blow,
advances boldly, and, when he fancies him
self 10 front OF the ALA, proceeds to give
lusty whack-generally at empty air. or
against some column or abutment, which
makes bis fingers tingle with pain and his
cheeks 1ush with modification, while the
big jar, with its cargo Of goodies, still hangs
high and dry, perhaps as far as possible
from the point at which he is aiming Each
aspirsnt is allowed three separate attempts,
and meanwhile the other youngsters dance
around like little demons, endeavoring to
confuse and mislead him by jeers and
laughter, traitorously yelling, 'tcharge to
the left, Bonitoln "Strike to the right, mi
amingo," "a little this way, pobrdcito," &c.
At last some fortunate urchln, by the
merest chance, gives the vase blow which
shivers IL to atoms, and the dulces fly about
In every direction. Then general scrsm.
Bile ensues, but 1t is perfectly understood
that the contents OF the ola are for the
servants and their families, and OF a boy
tastes one OF them, but merely tries TO
secure ss many as he can for his special
attendant or some favorite servitor
Soon as the candles are disposed OF al
leave the patio and repair to the dining
room, where supper Is spread, and every
body finds at his plate some souvenir Of
the season in gifts and confectionery.
Time was when these
'REMERDos DEL PosADAs"
were very costly, consisting OF Jewels aud
articles in gold and silver; but of later
years, since the proudest grsndees are no
more rich, as In the old days, the souvenirs
or "remeidos" are mostly flowers, bon
boneres, and other inexpensive trines.
the musicians are summoned to the sala to
play danzas and waltzes till the wee sma'
hours Of the morning
Not until the ninth night, Christmas eve,
is the climax of the festival reached In what
10 known as the nacimicnto, commemora-
tive Of the actual birth Of Christ, A young
lady who has been selected to be "Ma-
drina" or godmother to the holy infant, re-
ceives written invitation OF which give
you translation verbatim "SenUrita que
rida mia: The Messiah will visit our poor
earth tonight In the form Of an infant.
Knowing you to be virtuous, generous, and
large hearted we ask you to receive this
child Jesus In your arms and carry him to
the humble stable in Bethlehem where his
mother, the Virgin Mary, and his foster
father, st. Joseph, await him."
At 10 O'Clock on Christmas eve the pro-
cession is formed rs before, with the ex-
ception that instead Of the brancard borne
by ''maids OF honor" several little children,
as avant .couliers, precede the madrIna,
who bears In her arms wax image OF the
child Jteus.-in reality, q wax doll, dressed
In infants clothes. After making the usual
circuit nine times, singing as they 20, the
procession at length emerges
ton THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM"
where all pause and chant the beautiful
litany to the virgin, the children respond
ing, "Madre Santissima, ora pro nobis."
This road TO Bethlehem, the wayslde ham,
let's, the stable, &c, are all carefully ar
ranged in the large room which before
served as the abode Of the Bethlehemite
family.
The most perfect one have seen had the
walls Of this apartment covered with tapes
try representing Judean landscapes. From
the ceiling, which was studded with silver
stars, were suspended several angels, who
were supposed to guard the mountain
passes and watch over the stable where the
Holy Family rested. Bethlehem, the hills
about, and the neighboring hamlets were
artistic manner - - barring aas some am an.
achronisms, such, for instance, as
Judean maldens sitting In their poor
huts in white satin ball dresses, q
shepherd on lonely hill guarding his flock
with gun, and the sacred stable carpeted
with a costly Persian rug.
A silvery cascade rushed down the noun
tain side and emptied into a placid lake
(formed by large mirror), on which ducks
nd VI uni Nfno chan harI
guiding his flock over bridge that spanned
pebble bottomed stream; women were
washing at the fountains; Indian maidens
carrying jars Of water from the wells, and
cattle br0wsed upon the hills.
We looked into the huts where the white
satin robed Judean maidens pursued their
humble avocatlons; we visited the caves
where the shepherds who 'watched their
focks by night" were seated on the ground
eating their frugal suppers-with diamond
jeweled fingers; we passed the pilgrims,
who, laden with offerings for the Messiah,
were toiling up q steep hill, and afar of,
on mountain top, we beheld three fun
nily turbaned figures, followed by slaves,
who bore caskets supposed to coutain
mSrrh, frankincense, and sweet spices.
These, OF course, were
THE MAGI,
who had halted and were eagerly scanning
the country, as II In search Of some particu-
lar locality. One, who personsted Melchoir,
pointed to bright star (of silver paper)
which hung over thes traw thatched, Persian
carpeted stable, and addressed his COM
psnioDs in expressive pautomime.
Finally we reached the humble shelter OF
the blessed virgin mother, the gentle ma
drina deposited the waxen doll within the
manger where she lay, beside which knelt
st. Joseph, the foster father, and the magi,
who had now arrived, followed by the
shepherds, the pilgrims, and all the pro-
cession. Then hosannahs burst forth anew,
the maids of honor sang a "Kyrie Eleison''
and "Jubilate;" after which the youngstei
ran away to their games and sweets, and
the elders made ready for the midnight
mass in the grand cathedral, and the latel
tour Of the city churches.
FANNIE B. WARD.